Photo: "Organ of Muskets"

Photographer: Howard C. Ohlhous
Taken: June 8, 2010
Caption: "Organ of Muskets"
Additional Description: The double gun rack housing the Springfield US M1861 rifle muskets in the Museum is the sole survivor of 36 built in the early 1830's. U.S. RIFLE-MUSKET MODEL 1861 PERCUSSION .58 Manufactured by Springfield Armory, Springfield, Ma. in 1862 - Standard Model 1861 percussion rifle-musket. The bright finish lock plate is flat, bevelled and inletted into the stock to bevel height, and is about 5-3/8 inches long by 1-1/4 inches wide. Oil finish walnut stock is 52-1/2 inches long. Barrel is 40 inches long, finished bright and rifled with 3 grooves, making one turn in 6 feet. All furniture is iron, polished bright, with three flat bands held by band springs seated in front of the bands. The upper sling swivel is riveted to the middle band; the lower swivel to the front of the triggerguard bow. The bright, swelled end, cup-tipped ramrod has a channeled swell near the end of the fore-cap, to retain the ramrod in the stock. Weapon was test fired but never issued. This is one of 645 retained in arms rack popularly referred to as "Organ." Excellent condition. Approximately 265,129 Model 1861 rifle muskets were produced at the Springfield Armory between January 1, 1861 and December 31, 1863.
Submitted: June 10, 2010, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York.
Database Locator Identification Number: p112462
File Size: 2.718 Megabytes

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